It was a perfect weekend for boating and being at the beach. The weather was great, although maybe a bit windy at times, and Lisa and Sophie were all done with track season.
On Saturday morning George, as he always does, made pancakes for breakfast. But these were not your normal pancakes. They were made with just eggs and very ripe bananas which they had frozen for that purpose. I think he may have added some vanilla and some nuts. It was amazing how good they were!! No flour! I think maybe Dick will be able to start eating pancakes again!
Dick and George left the house first to go to the marina and get the boat ready to go. Later we three ladies went to the marina - the grandma in the back seat and the other two in the front seat, Sophie driving. It was the first time I was with her when she drove. I must say she's a good driver and she's very comfortable. Look at her driving one-handed!
We got all our stuff packed into the boat and away we went - out to Three Rooker Island.
I LOVED it!!!
Out at the beach Dick spent a lot of time looking for shells. He was amazingly successful!!!
This was our spot. Trust me, Dick was posing, haha!
George loves to fish. He caught some, but put them back in.
In the afternoon it got quite windy. Sophie discovered that her beach towel just stayed on her when she faced the wind, hahaha!
Ahhhh, the ocean and the sky. Nothing shows the power and vastness and majesty of God better than this!
Around six (I think) we headed back. Sophie and Lisa were in the front, Dick and George in the middle, and I held down the back!
I took this video so you could see the views I had from the boat.
Back at home they ordered in pizza, salad, chicken wings, and meat balls. Everything was scrumptious and the weather was perfectly pleasant. I can't think of a better ending to a day at the beach.
Except maybe this! Sophie brought out her keyboard and some music. I also had taken some of my piano books along. We played for a long time. We even put George, on the couch behind us, to sleep!
The next day we did pretty much the same thing again. I took a video of myself this time as we bounced over some waves.
This shelter was the niftiest thing. It's a really stretchy fabric. Each corner is tied to a pocket made of the same fabric. We filled those pockets full of sand, which was enough weight to keep the shelter from flying away. Two poles propped it up. So quick and easy.
Dick and I spent a lot of time under there that day. We'd gotten enough sun the day before.
Lisa and Dick out in the water. The water was so calm at first. He found more beautiful shells.
Friends of their family came and parked their boat next to ours and hung out with us. That's Lisa and Erika catching up.
They brought a fun raft along that Lisa and Erika tried out. Sophie and Erika's son pushed them away from the sand.
We left earlier that day, because we planned to take a ride down to Largo where George's sister lives. It was fun, because we slowed down to go under bridges a number of times and I would ask Lisa which road was above us and where it went, etc. I remember that one of them led to Honeymoon Beach, another to Clearwater beach.
George had a roof up for shade this time. Erika's son (I can't remember his name, ugh) came with us and sat up front with Sophie. She assured me that he is NOT her boyfriend, but a friend since kindergarten. Lisa sat in the back with me.
There were so many big beautiful houses along the way!
At his sister's place, which is right along the water, we used the bathroom and then made the trip back to the marina. It was an absolutely lovely way to end the weekend.
Back at the house we had sloppy joes, which I had made in the morning. And we all started thinking about Monday morning, which for us meant packing up. A week is the longest we have ever stayed, but even a week goes by too fast!
Our vacation Friday was a truly beautiful day - warm and sunny with low humidity. In fact, that was the case the entire weekend. I tried out Lisa's hammock swing and took this video as it slowly swiveled. You'll see that Dick was sitting nearby, Nilla Bean too, the slider was open to the living room, birds singing. Just absolute perfection!
Later I tried out the regular hammock, but I needed Dick's help both for getting into it and out of it again! I didn't know George snapped this picture from a window! Actually, I dozed off for a while in that hammock.
And this was my glorious view from the hammock.
That afternoon I made another of our favorite dinners - skillet shepherd's pie. As I was prepping I looked through the cupboards and drawers to find a mixer or a masher for the potatoes. Finally I texted Lisa, and her quick reply CRACKED ME UP!!!
When Sophie came home from school she quickly changed and left for an evening at the beach with some school friends. Lisa came home and planned to walk before eating dinner. So Dick and I decided to do the same. Beauty everywhere we walked!
Beautiful houses....
Beautiful trees and skies.....
Several beautiful lakes.....
Beautiful flowers.....
Even a beautiful (strangely familiar) lady walking on the other side of the street, hahaha! We could not have kept up with her pace.
We ate dinner on the screened-in porch and sat out there the entire evening. When Sophie came home she grabbed some of the shepherd's pie and joined us too. I guess I didn't take any pictures.
In case you're wondering if I forgot all about that precious great grandson in PA while we were on vacation - no way!! I'm sure we Facetimed each day. We also Facetimed with Jeremy and the family in Portland several times and with Sammy a few times too. Hunter's text messages gave us lots of things to laugh about! Always fun!
On Thursday morning our first order of business (after breakfast, of course) was going shopping. Not Publix this time! I forgot to mention that on Wednesday we had gone to Target to buy Dick an outfit for Thursday evening's Track and Field banquet. He had not brought anything but jeans and shorts, and neither of those would be acceptable. We discovered after picking out two pairs of pants that Target's dressing rooms were not open. We didn't want to pick out a shirt if we didn't know which pants fit the best. So we bought two pairs of pants and no shirt. On Thursday we returned one pair of pants and then went to Kohls to buy a shirt. Can you believe I did not take a picture of him in that outfit??? He looked really nice! Grrrr. Oh well, he'll wear it some other time and I'll be sure to take a picture. Another picture I really regret not taking is of George, Lisa, and Sophie together at the banquet. I don't know where my head is sometimes.
Anyway, in driving to Kohls we spied this 1964 Comet! We had one of those years ago. Falcons and Comets were very popular in the Witmer family. My dad and brother worked at the Ford dealership in Manheim, so we were definitely Ford people!
Later in the afternoon Dick and I met Lisa at the banquet venue to help with some set-up.
What a lovely place at a golf resort near the school!
Lisa said there were 180 people at the banquet.
Lisa, as head coach of the track and field team, was in charge. I thought she looked absolutely adorable!
Many, many awards were given. I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of Sophie receiving hers. Just got her back as she walked to her seat.
The very last thing was a tribute and a plaque given to Lisa by one of her coaching staff. We were really proud parents!
Afterwards the team went outside for picture taking.
Now there's the front of our beautiful Sophie girl!
Trying to get a three generation picture. Of course, I had to give some orders first apparently!
Sophie and Lisa had to check out their shoes too.
And there we are! We are absolutely related by blood, although we don't look alike. Lisa has always looked more like a Stauffer than a Witmer. And Sophie has always looked more like a Haag than a Stauffer!
George was at the banquet sitting with Lisa, but he had to leave the minute it was over to attend a work webinar online. We came home and kept him company, haha!
Later we four adults were sitting around the kitchen table talking. I just had to take this picture of sweet Stella sitting on George's lap, resting her head on the table. She is the sweetest, cuddliest dog I've ever known.
When I picked the dates for our trip I had no idea of the banquet. I'm SO glad we got to attend and meet so many people. It was a really good evening.
Wednesday morning started as usual - making our bacon and omelet in the kitchen and of course our coffee. Their coffee maker produces a foamy brew that was so delicious. That mug said, "Don't Kale my Vibe."
I ate breakfast on the porch again and took this video of the birds singing their hearts out.
I sneaked into Sophie's room to take a picture of all her track trophies!
Their school has student-led chapel every Wednesday. Dick and I attended that. I took this picture at the entrance to their street. "Deerpath." Yes, they see deer and Dick got to see one!
Lisa met us at the front door of the school and took us to see her office.
Look at all those track and field team trophies!
This picture shows just half of the auditorium. I think Lisa said that there are over 700 students in grades 9 - 12.
I was so impressed with the student worship team. Reminded me of the student worship teams I had at Manheim Christian. Here's a small part of the song "The Blessing."
After we went back to the house I decided to get into the pool. The water felt cold at first, but I soon got used to it. It was so refreshing.
Then I got out and just relaxed and reveled in the beauty of God's creation. Of course I had to take pictures of it all.
I even sat in the sun for about half an hour.
For dinner I made the roasted sausage, veggies, and yams that Dick and I are so fond of. While that was in the oven I had time to sit down with the doggies for a while.
We ate dinner on the porch and hung out there for the rest of the evening.
Lisa does have an office at home, but this hammock swing was where she often sat to do her school work.
We had lots of great discussions with George and got caught up on his job and other interesting things.
Sophie did eat dinner with us, but somehow I let the whole day go by without a picture of her. I promise that I took some the next day! Next blog post!
